Day visitors are welcome at any time. The main gate is open from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm (later on Sundays and other teaching evenings). The meeting hall is always open and there is a library for browsing or borrowing. The stupa or pagoda is five minutes from the end of the parking lot. If you wish to meet with someone, it is best if you contact the monastery for an appointment or come at either meal time (10.30-11.30 am) or tea time (6 pm).

The main public evening is on Sunday, when there is chanting, meditation, and a talk by one of the senior monks from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm. There is also a monthly Meditation Afternoon (first Saturday, 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm), for both beginners and experienced meditators.

Retreats

Residential weekend and longer retreats are offered at various times (see Events Calendar for dates).

Guests

Guests are welcome to reside at the monastery provided they agree to follow the monastic routine and abide by the eight precepts. Owing to limited facilities, prior registration is required; please contact the Guest Monk. Telephone +64 (0)4 563 7193

Daily Schedule

Note that the community eats only before midday. The routine is modified slightly on the weekly observance days and Sundays, when the early morning meditation is optional, most work projects are suspended, and the day is devoted to quiet reflection.

If you would like to contribute some food offerings, you can read the current Dana list to find out which items are particularly needed.

The Eight Precepts

1. Harmlessness: not intentionally killing any living being

2. Trustworthiness: not taking anything that is not given

3. Chastity: refraining from all sexual or erotic behaviour

4. Right speech: not speaking falsely, abusively, or with malicious intent

5. Mental clarity: not taking any intoxicating drink or drug (no smoking; some medical exceptions)

6. Restraint: not eating after midday.

7. Renunciation: refraining from entertainments and from personal adornment (e.g. dress modestly, no radios).

8. Arousing energy: to refrain from excessive sleep

Useful things to bring

Clothing and footwear suitable for cold and wet weather, for work, and for meditation.

Warm sleeping bag and a pillowcase.

A torch and an alarm clock.

Bodhinyanarama Monastery, 17 Rakau Grove, Stokes Valley, Lower Hutt 5019, Wellington, New Zealand

Getting Here

By car

The Monastery is about 35 minutes from downtown Wellington. Drive up the Hutt Motorway (State Highway 2) until the Silverstream turnoff, turning right over the bridge. About 150 meters on there is a roundabout. Stay in the right lane and turn right. You are now travelling south again but on the other side of the river. Follow the signs to Stokes Valley. Turn into Stokes Valley Road and drive to the top of the valley (4 km) taking the sign-posted left hand turn into Rakau Grove. The monastery is at the very end of Rakau Grove. There is limited on-site parking. If you are coming down the west coast (SH1) and over Haywards Hill (SH58), turn left as you reach the Hutt Motorway and follow the route above.

Public transport

Take a train from Wellington to Taita Station. This connects with the No. 120 Stokes Valley bus service leaving from the shopping centre, terminating at the top of the valley opposite Rakau Grove. These run every quarter hour on week days and less frequently on weekends. The total trip takes less than one hour. Alternatively, catch the “Airport Flyer” (orange) bus from specified stops in Wellington, Petone or Lower Hutt to Stokes Valley Entrance, then the No. 120 to the end of Stokes Valley Road.